Antrim Primary

Eco Schools Report - MARCH 2006
As an eco school we care about the environment and how we can help conserve the
earth's resources. We would like to update you on what is happening in our school for the
Eco-schools award scheme. This year we will be applying for our second Green Flag.
This is a whole school project and we need everyone to help the eco committee to achieve
this, so that we can continue to fly the green flag outside our school. Being awarded a
green flag shows people that we care for our environment.
It is impossible for a few people to keep our school clean and tidy. We need everyone to
take responsibility for the appearance of our school. To be awarded the flag we are
assessed on the different issues we have targeted.

Litter
This year the eco committee has given each year group a green zone to look after and the
litter problem has greatly improved but we still need your help to stop litter being thrown
down both inside and outside of school.
The main problem is now at the front of the school where either people are throwing litter
into the grounds or it is blown in by the wind. We would like you to encourage your friends
and family to always put litter in the bin. Remember if someone is caught throwing litter
down by the litter warden there is an instant Ł50 fine

3Rs
One of our main aims has been to Reduce, Re-use and Recycle the waste we produce.
P6 classes have looked at ways we can reduce the amount of waste in their lunch boxes
· Use a lunch box with different compartments for different foods
· Put items in reusable bags which can be resealed instead of items which are individually
wrapped
This year many of you have again been involved in the yellow pages and Christmas card
recycling projects. The yellow pages will go to make egg boxes and recycled paper. This
helps to save trees, which would otherwise be cut down to make these products. We also
recycle all waste paper and card in school
Next week we will be sending out information on our new recycling project for this year.
We want you to collect clean second hand clothes from your friends and family. For every
bag of clothes we collect the school will receive Ł1. So hopefully we will be able to raise
some money for our school grounds.

Healthy Living
Healthy living is another important part of the eco schools message. Thanks to Mrs
Stewart's initiative of healthy eating more people are bringing fruit and other healthy
options for break Recently there has been some concern about young peoples' diet. We
all should have 5 portions of fruit or vegetables each day Having a banana or an orange for
break will give you more vitamins and will give you longer lasting energy than a chocolate
bar or crisps
We hope that when it comes to choosing something for breaks you will make a healthy
choice of having fruit. Choosing fruit instead of crisps and chocolate bars will help to
reduce waste, as all the waste can be recycled in the worm bins. This will also help to
reduce the litter problem in school.
Remember exercising is also important to keep you healthy and it helps to clear your
mind and releases chemicals that make you feel happy Mr Savage is introducing the Huff
and Puff programme to encourage pupils to exercise and stay healthy

Schools Grounds
We have targeted the school grounds for our next green flag. We want our school grounds
to become an outdoor classroom, a place where we can work as well as rest and play.
We want to attract more wildlife into the school grounds such as mini beasts and birds.
So far we have set aside a wildlife area
The conservation volunteers have built another living willow dome
Some classes have planted flowers and bulbs
And we have made some bird cones to hang up around the school grounds
Many of us have been involved in the Big schools bird watch and can now identify the
different birds that visit our school grounds each day. We enjoyed collecting the data and
entering it on the rspb web site. If you visit this site you will find out the results of Britain's
big bird watch

Energy
Climate change is already happening and we must take action to reduce our energy usage
if we are to prevent catastrophe. Even the smallest of actions can make a difference. Not
leaving your TV on standby and walking to school instead of getting a lift could help save
thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide if everyone did the same. And this helps reduce the
amount of 'greenhouse gases', which contribute towards climate change. In school we are
trying to reduce the amount of energy we produce. Perhaps you can find out how to use
less energy at home.
Friday 10th March sees the launch of "Click for the Climate", a campaign that will help to
reduce energy consumption. Climate change is already happening, as scientists report
daily, and we must take drastic action to reduce our energy consumption.
What will you be doing to help reduce your carbon dioxide emissions during National
Science Week?
Prime Minister Tony Blair will be turning down his thermostat, world record holder Colin
Jackson will be taking the train and Sir David Attenborough will be unplugging his mobile
charger.

This year our school is taking part in the best-kept school awards. Everyone in school
can help by keeping our school clean, tidy and litter free. The judging for this award will be
taking place in April or May.